Two rough sleepers were arrested in Christchurch last week and charged with criminal offences. Photo / File
Two arrests have been made in a crackdown on unruly rough sleepers in Christchurch.
The Herald was told a number of rough sleepers on Hereford St were moved on last week – on the eve of the February 22, 2011 earthquake memorial events in the city.
Senior Sergeant Ian Appley confirmed that Hereford St "seems to be a problem area".
But he stressed it was "more of a criminal problem as opposed to a homeless one".
He confirmed two men were arrested and will appear at Christchurch District Court at a later date.
Christchurch City Council, police, Christchurch City Mission and the Central City Business Association are working on an education programme around street begging.
City councillor Anne Galloway said in January there was "only a handful of genuine homeless people" across the city.
"The people who are in streets begging are, for the majority, hustlers and are often there because they are supporting a drug habit," she said.
Appley says homelessness is a complex issue that continues to come to police attention in the Garden City.
But it's no worse, he says, than many other places in New Zealand.
"Many of those dealt with are suffering a wide range of welfare issues and police will seek to use alternative resolutions and referrals to partner agencies to assist with specialist help," Appley says.
"We aim to engage, educate, encourage and learn from all interactions. On occasions we will exhaust all options and have no alternative but to take enforcement action."
Rough sleeping, begging or being homeless, Appley said, are not criminal offences.
But police can be called in to deal with public disorder or complaints about antisocial behaviour.
Police are heading down the campaign approach, similar to a Hamilton trial called Your Help May Harm.
The campaign aims to help the homeless by guiding them to appropriate services, rather than just giving them money.
"Police are continuing to work alongside and have meetings with our partner agencies to better understand the issues and to find long-term solutions for homelessness," Appley says.
"We are supportive of the collective work being done in the community to support and assist homeless families and individuals."
'He has disregarded our voice and continued with this divisive kaupapa.'